1742 Children Became Orphans Due To COVID, 7464 Lost One Parent : NCPCR Tells Supreme Court

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR) has informed the Supreme Court that the COVID-19 pandemic has orphaned 1742 children, and 7464 children lost at least one parent during the pandemic.

The NCPCR told the Court that the number of children in need of care and protection due to COVID is 9346, including 140 abandoned children. The numbers are as per the data available on the online portal of NCPCR as on May 29.

The submission was made before a bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose which is considering a suo moto case on the issue of protection of children during the pandemic. On the last hearing date, May 28, the bench had directed the district authorities under the Juvenile Justice Act to immediately upload information related to children orphaned due to COVID after March 2020 in the national portal of NCPCR called "Bal Swaraj".

After today's hearing, the Supreme Court directed States to nominate a Nodal Officer at level of Secretary/Joint Sec of concerned department to interact with the Amicus Curiae Gaurav Agarwal and provide all necessary information relating to identification of orphans/Children in Need of Care and Protection(CNCP) and the schemes enforced.

The direction has been passed for 10 States including Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, UP, Maharashtra, Bihar and Jharkhand to start with, as identified by the Amicus, after a suggestion regarding the same was made by him.

While listing the matter for further consideration on Monday, the Court has asked the Amicus to submit detailed report of present situation of orphans/CNCPs by Sunday in above states

The direction was passed making note of the Amicus Adv Gaurav Agarwal's request to direct states to appoint a nodal officer at level of Secretary/Joint Secretary of concerned department to interact with him to:

• Provide all necessary information relating to identification of orphans/CNCPs

• Discuss about problems faced for identification, steps taken for identification

• Any other problems pertaining to implementation of scheme enforced.

After a suggestion was made by Amicus regarding appointment of a Nodal Officer, the Bench inquired if States have been chosen based on number of children. The Bench indicated that the direction which is now being passed for 10 states, like suggested by Amicus 'as a pilot', will eventually be done for other states as well.

The directions were passed while hearing an application filed by the Amicus Curiae Mr Gaurav Agrawal seeking directions in respect of children who are adversely affected due to Covid pandemic by losing either one or both the parents, and the increased incidents of child trafficking specially of the girl child.

 Click here to read/download the NCPCR Affidavit